Dwayne Johnson has surprised fans and fashion critics alike by arriving at the 2026 Met Gala in a daring custom-made pleated skirt.
Walking the red carpet hand in hand with his wife, Lauren Hashian, the star known as “The Rock” swapped his usual pants for a black mohair tailcoat and a matching skirt designed by Thom Browne.
The intricate costume was a true work of art, featuring a “skeletal composition” made from more than 350 meters of hand-pleated silk ribbons.
When reporters met with him to ask how he felt about the ensemble, Johnson was quick to explain that the look was deeply rooted in his heritage.
She mentioned that when the design team initially asked her if she would feel comfortable wearing a pleated skirt, her response was an immediate yes.
Johnson noted that in Polynesian culture men frequently wear lavaavas and skirts, noting that the most masculine men in his culture adopt these garments.
“I feel great!” he told reporters, laughing at any suggestion that the outfit was anything less than traditional for him.
The actor joins an elite list of attendees at this year’s event, which will be hosted by a committee that includes the likes of Zoë Kravitz, Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat.
As one of the most talked-about men of the night, Johnson’s choice to embrace his Polynesian roots through couture directly addressed the theme “Fashion is art.”
By combining Thom Browne’s avant-garde tailoring with the cultural significance of the lavalava, he managed to turn a red carpet moment into a meaningful conversation about identity and what it really means to be a modern man.
